Patents by Inventor Michael Donald Betz

Michael Donald Betz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7472008
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling power provided by a drive train system of a mobile machine, which includes an engine that provides engine power to a generator that, in turn, provides generator power to a motor. The motor provides ground power to a travel mechanism that enables the mobile machine to travel across a terrain surface. In one embodiment, the method includes adjusting operation of the motor based on a determined ground speed of the mobile machine. Based on the adjusted motor operations, the operation of the generator is adjusted. Also, the operation of the engine is adjusted such that the engine produces an amount of engine power that meets a load demand corresponding to the adjusted operation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Donald Betz, Stephen Carl Garnett, Chih Chieh Liang, Michael George Cronin
  • Patent number: 7350611
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an electric drive work machine including an engine and an electric motor that provides power to enable the work machine to travel across a surface terrain at certain ground speeds. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a reverse directional shift of the work machine causing the work machine to travel in a reverse direction. Further, the method may include performing an engine speed reduction process that reduces a current speed of the engine based on the detected reverse directional shift without reducing a ground speed of the work machine while traveling in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Michael Donald Betz, Stephen Carl Garnett, Chih Chieh Liang
  • Publication number: 20050274555
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an electric drive work machine including an engine and an electric motor that provides power to enable the work machine to travel across a surface terrain at certain ground speeds. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a reverse directional shift of the work machine causing the work machine to travel in a reverse direction. Further, the method may include performing an engine speed reduction process that reduces a current speed of the engine based on the detected reverse directional shift without reducing a ground speed of the work machine while traveling in the reverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Donald Betz, Stephen Garnett, Chih Chieh Liang